General Care Guide

🏠 Habitat & Cage Requirements

  Enclosure Size:

• Baby (0–6 months): 40 gallon tank

• Juvenile (6–12 months): 75+ gallons

• Adult (1+ years): 75–120 gallons minimum (larger is better)

Tank Type:Use a glass or front-opening terrarium with a secure screen lid for ventilation.Avoid very tall tanks—bearded dragons prefer floor space for roaming and basking. 4x2x2 ft (120 gal) enclosure recommended . Since dragons grow at a fast rate, we recommend starting with the largest enclosure possible to keep from having to upgrade in the future.

•   Substrate (floor material):Best: Non-adhesive shelf liner,play sand, corn cob litter, or tile.Avoid: Loose substrates (walnut shells, wood chips) — these can cause impaction if ingested.

•   Decorations:Provide a basking rock/slate or log, a hide on the cool side, and branches for climbing.Add a shallow water dish (optional) for soaking and drinking.

• ☀️ Lighting & Temperature

Bearded dragons are diurnal reptiles — they need proper UVB light and heat to stay healthy.  

•   Lighting Setup:UVB Light:Use a 10.0–12.0 T5 HO UVB tube light that runs 2/3 of the tank’s length.Replace the bulb every 6–12 months, even if it still looks bright.Make sure there’s no glass or plastic between the bulb and dragon.Place 10–12 inches above basking area.

•   Basking Light:Use a heat bulb to create a hot basking spot.Basking spot temperature: 100–110°F (37–43°C)Cool side temperature: 75–85°F (24–29°C)

•   Nighttime: Allow drop to 70–75°F (21–24°C) — no light at night unless temps drop below 65°F.

•   Photoperiod: Provide 12–14 hours of light per day.

• 🥬 Feeding & Nutrition Diet:

  Ratio:Babies (0–6 months): ~70% insects, 30% greens , Juveniles (6–12 months):   50/50 mix , Adults (1+ years): ~70–80% vegetables, 20–30% insects

 Insects (Protein):Offer gut-loaded insects such as: Crickets, Dubia roaches, Black  soldier fly larvae

• Occasional treats: mealworms, superworms (for adults)Feed insects daily for juveniles, every 2–3 days for adults.Dust insects with calcium (without D3) 4–5 times a week, and with multivitamin (with D3) 1–2 times a week.

•   Vegetables & Greens:Offer daily.Good options: arugula,collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, squash, bell peppers, carrots (shredded), and other safe veggies.Avoid iceberg lettuce and spinach (low nutrition / high oxalates).

•   Fruits (Occasional Treats):Berries, apples, mango, papaya — small pieces once or twice a week.

•   Water: Keep a shallow water bowl in the tank(optional). Mist vegetables or offer occasional baths for hydration. Dragons do get a lot of their water content from their veggies, water bowls are optional.